Improved product from caoutchouc



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HENRY, AYLING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED PRODUCT FROM GAOUTCHOUC, 860.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,632, dated May 10, 1864.

following is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

My'invention consists in an improved product or article of manufacture of which caoutch'oncis the chief component, and which is combined with carbon spirits and chloride of sulphur. It is unnecessary here to describe articles so well known as are those first and lastnamed. Qarbon spirits is a fluid resultant from the distillation of petroleum or rock-oil, which fluid, when well refined, has a specific gravity of from about 0.600 to 0.750. ltiis known in commerce by this name, though various other appellations are given to it by manufacturers and dealers, being mostly trademarks or fanciful names, and much of it is more orless mingled with impurities as 'it is found in the market, which causes its appearance to vary, though the best results are obtained with the'bestrefined spirits.

The object of my invention is to produce a preparation of caontchouc for use in the arts so changed from its natural state as to be unafiected by changes of temperature, by acids, oils, or fatty matters, or by exposure to the atmosphere, and so that its strength, elasticity, anddurability are increased. The product is similar in these respects to that well known as vulcanized rubber, which is produced by the combinedaction of heat and sulphur on caou tchouc, with these important exceptions, however, that, unlike vulcanized rubber, my product contains no chemically uncombined sulphur, and therefore there is not therein (as there is in vulcanized rubber) a continuous I presence and action of free sulphur, which causes change and even decomposition in the course of time. My improved product'is superior to all vulcanized or cured preparations of caoutchouc, in that it is more permanent in its elasticity, more uniform in its texture and characteristics throughout, and in its freedom from odor. In connection with this freedom from odor, it

should be mentioned that the smell of the carbon spirits and chloride of sulphur can be permanently removed from my improved product by washing it in a weak alkaline solution and by exposure to the air. The uniformity of product is consequent upon the easily-acquired and completecontrol which is obtained by the use of the chemicals employed.

-In vulcanizing rubber there is always a risk of overheating or burning, which is avoided by my process, which is essentially a cold one, and may be described as'bringing caoutchouc into contact for suflicient time with a compound consisting of a mixture substantially in the proportion of one measure of chloride of sulphur to fifty measures of 'carbon spirits, and then allowing the caoutchouc to dry by exposure to the atmosphere. This proportion of parts in the mixture may be somewhat vvaried, according to thicknessof the rubber and the extent of the change desired therein, and yet be productive of similar'results. Rubber of about a thickness corresponding with No. 20 wire-gage I submit to the action of the mixture for about one minute before exposing it to dry. If the caontchouc is thicker, more time may be occupied, in which case I'prefer to lessen the proportion of the chloride of sulphur; but I find that in practice a slight increase of the time of contact or repetitions of the contact after intervals causes no sensible further change in the caoutchouc. The fluid compound engages with one of the constitucuts of natural caoutchouc, and when this constituent has taken up or combined with the amount needed to effect the change no more The improved product resulting from the contact of caoutchouc with a mixture of carbon spirits and chloride of sulphur, substan' tially as-specified. Y

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of April, A. D. 1863.

HENRY A. AYLING. 

